Communications Manager Resume Example
If you're hoping to start a career as a communications manager, you'll need experience in crafting engaging content and managing media relations. A strong resume for communications manager applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for communications manager applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other communications manager applicants. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning communications manager resume.
Key sections for a communications manager resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with a communications manager resume being no different.
For junior and entry-level communications manager positions, you may be short on work experience to include in your resume. Select a resume layout that emphasizes your skills and qualifications, such as a functional format. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
If you have some experience as a communications manager, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. Use your work experience section to highlight your career achievements and show how you meet the job description. Offer evidence of the impact you had on successful outcomes for the company.
Senior job applications require a slightly different approach to mid-level or junior communications manager roles. Use a reverse-chronological format focusing on your work experience, with a particular emphasis on the impact you've made. It's likely that your senior resume will be longer than a standard resume of one-to-two pages. This is because you'll be listing additional achievements beyond your work experience, such as awards, publications and professional memberships.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Header and Personal Information
In your communications manager resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Make sure the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Nova Diaz
nova.diaz@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1985 Hill Valley, CA
linkedin․com/in/nova–diaz123
Resume Summary
In your resume summary, write a short paragraph that highlights two or three of your key achievements and skills for communications manager roles. You could also call this section 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. A resume summary covers your career experience to date, while a resume objective focuses more on your ambitions for the future. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for communications manager roles.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for communications manager roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for communications manager jobs below.
Good example:
Dynamic and results-driven Communications Manager with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and extensive experience as a Communications Director. Proven expertise in developing and executing strategic communication plans, managing media relations, and enhancing brand visibility. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, creating compelling content, and leveraging digital platforms to engage diverse audiences. Recognized for exceptional interpersonal skills, innovative problem-solving, and a commitment to organizational excellence
Bad example:
Communications professional with a background in communication studies and experience in various roles. Worked on communication plans and media-related tasks. Involved in team activities, content creation, and using online platforms. Known for working well with others, solving problems, and aiming for organizational goals
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your communications manager resume summary.
Work Experience
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your communications manager skills. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to communications manager roles.
A good work experience section pulls the reader in with clear examples of where you've put the skills necessary for the job into good use in your career to date. This typically includes evidence of how your skills and activities contributed to positive outcomes for the organization. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Good example:
Communications Director, January 2022 - Present
Nexus Communications Group, Albuquerque
- Increased social media engagement by 75% within one year through strategic content development and targeted marketing campaigns
- Successfully managed crisis communication strategy, preserving the company’s reputation and minimizing negative media coverage
- Spearheaded a rebranding initiative resulting in a 40% increase in brand recognition and a 25% boost in customer acquisition
Bad example:
Communications Director, January 2022 - Present
Nexus Communications Group, Albuquerque
- Enhanced team collaboration and communication efforts to improve overall project outcomes and efficiency
- Played a key role in developing and executing communication strategies for various company initiatives
- Contributed to the success of multiple marketing campaigns through creative content and effective messaging
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education and Qualifications
In this section list any educational qualifications or degrees that are relevant to communications manager roles.
Opportunities as a communications manager and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your PR management or content creation.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, 2017 - 2020
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for communications manager jobs. These could be data analytics, critical thinking skills or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the communications manager job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
Showcasing hard skills on your communications manager resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in communications manager roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective communications manager resume hard skills list looks like.
- Content creation
- SEO optimization
- Social media strategy
Adding soft skills to your communications manager resume
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for a communications manager position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for a communications manager resume, see below.
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Effective public speaking
- Excellent written communication
Certifications
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a communications manager. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a communications manager. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and professional certifications required for communications manager roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a communications manager resume:
- CMP Certification, 2022
- APR Credential, 2022
- PMP Certification, 2022
Resume tip:
Optional Sections
In addition to the core sections of a communications manager resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Hobbies
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as a communications manager. If you're thinking about adding hobbies and interests, just make sure they add something unique to your application, and showcase your personality and interests in unique and interesting ways.
Volunteer Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for communications manager roles beyond your main employment history. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
Standard communications manager resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Only include referees that you've had prior approval from, and notify them to expect contact from the employer.
References are available upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a communications manager resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Develop
- Strategize
- Coordinate
- Execute
- Manage
- Facilitate
- Articulate
- Collaborate
- Oversee
- Optimize
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Sample resume for communications manager positions
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your communications manager resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
1985 Hill Valley, CA
•
nova.diaz@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/nova–diaz123
Dynamic and results-oriented Communications Manager with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and extensive experience as a Public Relations Manager. Proven track record in developing and executing strategic communication plans, managing media relations, and enhancing brand reputation. Adept at leveraging diverse communication channels to engage stakeholders and drive organizational objectives. Skilled in crisis management, content creation, and team leadership, with a commitment to delivering impactful communication solutions
Public Relations Manager
2020
-2022
Radiant PR Solutions (Hialeah)
- Increased media coverage by 40% within one year through strategic press releases and cultivating key media relationships
- Successfully managed crisis communication, mitigating negative publicity and restoring brand reputation within three months
- Launched a social media campaign that boosted engagement by 50% and increased follower count by 30% in six months
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
2017
-2020
University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
Content creation
SEO optimization
Social media strategy
Strong interpersonal skills
Effective public speaking
Excellent written communication
CMP Certification
APR Credential
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a communications manager resume
Tips for best resume practices
- Add each relevant job in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position and working back from there.
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each communications manager role (e.g. 'execute', 'manage', 'facilitate').
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- List key skills throughout your resume that show you're a good fit for the role, and include a separate 'skills' section.
- Proofread your resume before sending it, to avoid any unnecessary mistakes that may harm your chances.
Things to avoid on your resume
- Don't use passive language - steer away from phrases like 'I was asked to' and use action words instead.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't use overly decorative formatting and layouts that can detract from the content and make your communications manager resume harder for scanning by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't list unrelated work experience unless you can show you used skills that are valuable to the job you're applying for.
- Don't forget to review your contact information before sending your resume, to ensure it's all up-to-date.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When writing your communications manager resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about a communications manager resume
As well as writing a professional communications manager resume, you'll need a cover letter to introduce yourself and emphasize your credentials.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the communications manager role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your communications manager resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for communications manager jobs. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
See an example resume headline below:
- Junior Communications Manager Seeking Opportunities
- Strategic Communications and PR Specialist
- Senior Communications Strategy Expert
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Takeaways for your communications manager resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. Jobseeker's expert-designed cover letter generator can help your applications make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Find detailed cover letter examples to complement your resume and get your application noticed.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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